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When you think of taking a cruise, a trip to the Caribbean, Hawaii or Adriatic Sea may come to mind, but there are also some cruises much closer to home. Specifically, sailing trips along the coast of the United States are popular, allowing seafarers to enjoy an Atlantic, Pacific or Gulf of Mexico excursion without straying far from land. And not every cruise is on a big ocean liner nor do you have to be gone for days on end. We found three very different cruises for your consideration.

Maine Windjammer Cruises

Wind and canvas power the Mercantile and Grace Bailey, two of the schooners belonging to the Maine Windjammer Cruises fleet, century old tall ships offering voyagers a chance to step back in time. Sail the inner harbors of Maine, your course determined by wind and weather. Journey past fishing villages, swing around uninhabited isles, see the US coast from a vantage point known only to those who love the sea. Take a one day trip or schedule a weekend or three, four, five, or six-day voyage. Accommodations are simple with twelve double cabins available with one double or two single beds and a porthole and window for ventilation and light. Hot showers and three Downeast Maine meals are served daily. Your port is Camden, home to the Curtis Island Lighthouse.

Maine Windjammer Cruises

46 John St.

Camden, Maine 04843-1915

207-236-2938

mainewindjammercruises.com

Calypso Queen

The Gulf of Mexico offers sand and surf, and is a popular cruising ground for the Calypso Queen, a 65-foot triple deck boat. Designed to cruise the intra-coastal waterways, this 149-passenger boat features two enclosed air-conditioned decks as well as one open deck. Trips are short, five hours or less, hugging the Pinellas County, Florida coastline before returning to port in Clearwater Beach. Cruises vary, with some designed for dolphin watching and others for sightseeing or enjoying a sunset. Nearby attractions include Egmont Key State Park which features a lighthouse built in 1858 with an active light and accessible only by boat.

Calypso Queen

25 Causeway Blvd., Slip #18

Clearwater Beach, FL 33767

727-461-3113

calypsoqueen.com

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About the Author

Charles Green is a freelance writer in North Carolina who has been writing since 1992 and freelancing since 2002. His work appears in "435 South Magazine," "Wisconsin Golfer" and for various websites. Green earned a Bacheler of Science in business administration from Ramapo College of New Jersey.

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